<p>Oh really?</p>
<p>[Just</a> To Be Clear: We Don?t Do Legacy | MIT Admissions](<a href=“http://mitadmissions.org/blogs/entry/just-to-be-clear-we-dont-do-legacy]Just”>Just To Be Clear: We Don’t Do Legacy | MIT Admissions)</p>
<p>“We simply don’t care of your parents went to MIT”</p>
<p>This is my last post on this thread. Lol I’ve said all I wanted to say.</p>
<p>Maybe some other perspectives would help. </p>
<p>Bump.</p>
<p>First things first, you have a massive advantage due to the URM status. There’s also the SAT and the GPA. </p>
<p>The previous comments have placed emphasis on the lack of well-written recs, and I’d agree that the ones you might get from the new teachers won’t be the best. However, that may not be the “make or break” factor in your app since teachers probably use a generic template for recs anyways (at least, most of mine do).</p>
<p>You seem to at least show interest in math through AMC and AIME, which is good. </p>
<p>Honestly, the 5 activities listed aren’t weak; my only suggestion would be to replace the quiz bowl thing with something else if possible.</p>
<p>In conclusion, based on your entire app, I’d say you’re a “MATCH” for MIT EA.</p>
<p>Does anyone want to comment on my ECs? And do you know anyone else with a similar situation for recs?</p>
<p>Your scores/GPA/URM is very, very, good. Now, you need to demonstrate some sort of passion for some subject. You’ve listed very trivial and basically meaningless ECs. A “average” AIME score (basically anything 6-7 or less, depending on the year) isn’t going to cut it. </p>
<p>MIT won’t accept you just because you happened to get good scores and grades and are Hispanic.</p>
<p>Everyone has strong and weak aspects in a college application process. You have very strong SATs, good AP scores (and lots of APs), decent ECs, possible not as good recs and I’m going to assume good/great essays. If you really work on making your essays good I think you will have no problem getting in or at the very LEAST deferred and then accepted. I couldnt imagine them denying you (I have friends with a LOT less than you who got deferred and some of them were the same ethnicity as well)</p>
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<p>Exactly My ECs are absolutely garbage, and my recommendations will suck. I certainly have a passion, but when you spend the first three years of high school 70 miles away from the nearest four-year university, there isnt much you can do in the way of meaningful activities. That could just be a sign that people whove lived in those places dont belong in Top 25 schools unless they have the natural ability to be IMO winners in which case they could fit the niche for an awkward but brilliant student with high ability relative to background, but that is beyond the scope of this discussion because I do not fit into that category.</p>
<p>I would say half your app is fantastic (parts mentioned by others), while the other half is certainly a little lackluster, mainly the teacher recs and the last 3 ECs (how involved are you in your hobby; also, what summer program?).</p>
<p>Unless there were absolutely terrible circumstances surrounding your junior teachers, I would really recommend asking them. Teacher rec letters are quite valuable, as they give an aspect into WHO you are, and are the only objective analyses of your personality in your admission (your essays are probably a little biased).</p>
<p>For your last 3 ECs (Honor societies, quiz bowl, maybe hobby, idk what it is), those are activities that nearly every MIT applicant has, but will not talk about. They simply don’t have much meaning, to be honest, so anything else that you’re committed to/is unique would probably fit better here.</p>
<p>Overall though, I think you have a decent chance with MIT (as much as the next competitive applicant), you just need to spice up your admission for an even better chance.</p>
<p>Your numbers are phenomenal, no one can disagree with that - 4.0 and a 2400. Though you seem concerned about your ECs and recommendations, you also can’t forget about how you’re going to portray yourself to the college you have in mind, through the essay, supplementary writing, etc. </p>
<p>It really matters how you sell yourself. Make your ECs look special. Make yourself look charismatic. And have some faith in yourself, you’re definitely a competitive applicant.</p>
<p>I would say MIT would be between a longshot and average for you. You dont really have anything that impressive. Stuff like AIME, and quizbowl are all very basic stuff for a college like MIT. Now, if you made something like USAMO qualifier, that wouldve increased your chances a lot. Also, you barely have any good ECs …</p>
<p>Who knows? Apply to MIT, but like everyone one else have a backup plan. BTW Impressive stats . GL</p>
<p>I hate to keep adding to this, but does anyone think this gives me any chance here?</p>
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<p>Would this mean they be more forgiving of certain URMs with top SAT scores but poor ECs? </p>
<p>The quote is old, but I am looking for some reason to still apply to MIT and similarly selective schools.</p>
<p>You have a 2400 and are a URM, with good grades and rigor. Your posts repeatedly show insecurities about your EC’s and recs, but, while considered, those are all secondary factors. Every school will tell you that Academic performance is the primary determining factor of acceptance.</p>
<p>I have a 2400 as well, and I plugged my stats into parchment (a site that uses admissions data to calculate real “chances”). I got around 25-30% for schools like MIT.</p>
<p>That means that if you apply to MIT, Harvard, Stanford, and Caltech, you should, statistically, get into one of them. So apply away. </p>
<p>Disclaimer: what I said was in response to your question about applying to MIT or “other similar schools.” “similar schools” like HYP will offer you a far greater advantage because of scores and URM than MIT will, based on what I’ve seen. MIT does tend to favor accomplished STEM applicants over generic perfect scorers. Also, EA at MIT does not help admissions chances nearly as much as ED or SCEA to Ivies+.</p>
<p>Your inhibitions about ECs are unfounded. CollegeConfidential, due to its self-selective nature, magnifies the percentage of stellar students you’ll see, but most top schools are not filled with these kinds of candidates. My district sent over ten kids to Princeton last year, and none of them were Davidson Fellows, or Siemens/Intel semifinalists, or IMO winners. They were just smart kids with good grades and scores.</p>
<p>@teenbodybuilder LOL the legacy part was a small part of my argument. I’m surprised that they don’t. You cannot deny the other points I have made about OP. Nothing truly does stand out, but I still think OP has a decent chance, not a 50% chance as you previously indicated.</p>
<p>IMO your recs are less of an issue than your ECs. MIT is going to understand that you moved and will expect recs from unfamiliar teachers (you may even want to point this out in additional info). With no reliable recs you’ll need a solid interview, so I’d focus on that a ton. If you can’t get an EC in your area I’d strongly recommend an on-site interview during a campus visit since MIT won’t care about your 2400 if they have NO personal gauge of your character. I think if you do well at the interview your presumably underwhelming recs will fade into the background.</p>
<p>@Nihilus I put my stats into Parchment and got a bunch of bizarre numbers.</p>
<p>Some of the numbers are simply too high to be logical for nearly any applicant, especially one of my ECs.</p>
<p>61% for MIT
49% for Princeton
83% for Columbia
86% for Cornell
30% for Harvard
83% for Caltech
100% for a high-ranked LAC at which I have legacy status</p>
<p>@jtg007</p>
<p>I have more than what I have listed for ECs and currently have different things listed in the application. I do have an area in which I have strong interest—mathematics. I really should have done more to make USAMO, but there is a story for that, and it was enough of a struggle to be able to take the AMC in the first place. The school I am at for senior has some relevant activities, but it’s too late do research, so I am essentially screwed in that respect. I was planning on talking about mathematics quite a bit in the essays, too. I don’t know I can get this across in an interview, though.</p>
<p>Parchment gives chances, I believe, on its own calculated academic ranking, out of 1000. It’s calculations are a bit strange. Mine seemed lower than they should be, compared to other profiles, so I edited mine to make it absolutely academically perfect. It was still lower than it should be. I wouldn’t put too much emphasis on their calculations.</p>
<p>Still, your ethnicity gives you a remarkable advantage in college admissions that you are underestimating. That’s probably what fueled the high chance estimation.</p>
<p>The point I was trying to make with the % chances its that you’re certainly going to get into some good school, as long as you apply to enough. Even with HYP rejecting around 60% of perfect scorers, your chance of being rejected by all three is only (0.6^3) or 21%.</p>
<p>looking at other remarks, i would say the same, its a reach and you are a competitive applicant specially due to your perfect SAT1,SAT2, and UW GPA.
Noone can know whether he can surely get in or not, thats the thing wbout top colleges.</p>
<p>I’d say competitive/reach qualifications, but seems like there would ba an extra URM boost based on the affirmative action quote you pasted. </p>
<p>Of course you would be accepted to almost every other school on earth. Tell us more about why you like MIT.</p>
<p>Use your essays to explain/illuminate the rural Georgia aspect…it’s not the same opportunities a kid in Connecticut would have. Are you considering GT?? What is your financial situation?</p>